LAKELAND, Fla. — Florida Southern College men's soccer (6-7-2, 3-6-1 SCC) secured a 2-1 victory over Barry University (5-5-3, 4-4-1 SSC) at the Barnett Athletic Complex, with both goals coming in the second half to overcome a halftime deficit.
Prior to kickoff, the men's soccer team honored its 12 seniors (
Tommy Smith, Lasse Dettmer, Ryan Fitzgerald, Daniel Shabani, Pablo Overfeld, Wade Bohde, Paul Hansen, Dylan Lowther, Yuta Tokuhisa, Marcus Steele, Thompson Head, and
Joshua Swank) with a heartfelt Senior Day ceremony celebrating their dedication and impact on the program.
With the win, the Mocs secure a spot in the Sunshine State Conference tournament.Â
The first half saw Florida Southern initiating offensive pressure early, with Overfeld,
Dakota Henry, and
Joao Lopes each taking shots, though none found the target. Dettmer made a key save against Stefan Momcilovic's attempt, keeping the score level for much of the half. Despite the Moccasins' efforts to break through, Barry capitalized in the 37th minute when Jayden Byard scored, assisted by Julien Laborde.
As the half progressed, the Mocs continued to seek an equalizer but faced offside calls and fouls, disrupting their momentum. The first half concluded with Barry holding a 1-0 lead over Florida Southern.
The second half began with a significant momentum shift as the Moccasins pressed forward immediately, with
Hector Oliver and
Tim Baierlein each hitting the woodwork early on. The team's persistence paid off in the 72nd minute when
Darcy Moffat scored, assisted by Henry, leveling the score at 1-1. Despite Barry's attempts to regain control, they were reduced to 10 men following a red card to Juan Pablo Gorrin shortly after the equalizer.
Florida Southern capitalized on the man advantage, maintaining pressure on Barry's defense. In the 80th minute, Moffat scored his second goal, again assisted by Henry, giving the Moccasins a 2-1 lead. The half concluded with Florida Southern holding the advantage, ending the game 2-1 in their favor.
Henry provided two assists and contributed three shots in the match. Moffat scored twice, with both shots on target, and secured the game-winning goal. Dettmer made one save while playing the entire 90 minutes in goal. Oliver led the team in shots, taking five attempts and landing one on goal.
Laborde provided a key assist for Barry, contributing to the team's offensive efforts with his playmaking ability. Byard found the back of the net, scoring the only goal for the team and ensuring they stayed competitive throughout the match. On the defensive side, Linus Wirth was tested frequently, recording three saves while facing 18 shots, allowing two goals over the full 90 minutes.
In their next game, FSC will host Saint Leo University on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. ET. The matchup will take place at Berend Field in Lakeland, Florida.
